And as a snow storm swirled outside Wednesday in the nation's capital, Paul started his own Twitter hash tag that encapsulated his hours-long stand-off on Capitol Hill: #filiblizzard.

The Kentucky senator, known for his libertarian leanings, has sharply questioned the Obama administration's use of drones against American citizens overseas and vowed to speak Wednesday until he received more answers from the government about its policies. Brennan is considered one of the main architects of the drone program.

Paul in particular wants to know whether the government believes it has the authority to carry out drone attacks against American citizens on U.S. soil. He took issue with Attorney General Eric Holder's recent admission, in which he said he could envision a scenario where a drone strike would, in fact, be ordered against Americans on U.S. soil.

While Holder said it's never been done before and he could only see it in an extraordinary circumstance, Paul said he's disturbed by the idea that an American citizen would lose his or her rights while within the country's borders.

"I rise today to begin to filibuster John Brennan's nomination for the CIA," Paul said. "I will speak until I can no longer speak. I will speak as long as it takes."

Wearing a dark grey suit and a red tie, Paul detailed his argument, staring intently at the Senate leaders presiding over the floor. The first-term senator stood with a thick binder full of notes in front of him–but he rarely looked at them.

Paul, who hasn't ruled out a 2016 presidential bid, said he doesn't consider President Barack Obama is a "bad person," but he said the president is also "not a judge."

"He's a politician," Paul said. "He was elected by a majority, but the majority doesn't get to decide who we execute. We have a process for deciding this. We have courts for deciding this, to allow one man to accuse you in secret, you never get notified you have been accused."

He continued: "Your notification is the buzz of the propellers on the drone as it flies overhead in the seconds before you're killed."

Holder narrowed the list of those possible extraordinary circumstances Wednesday. In testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee, Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, pressed Holder whether he believed it would be constitutional to target an American terror suspect "sitting at a cafe" if the suspect didn't pose an imminent threat.

After first saying it would be "inappropriate," Holder attempted to clarify his answer by giving a firm "no."

But he also said the government has no intention of carrying out drone strikes inside the United States. Echoing what he said in a letter to Paul, he called the possibility of domestic drone strikes "entirely hypothetical."

Paul, who was elected in 2010 with wide tea party support, said he understands that due process doesn't apply to combat zones overseas.

"But when people say, 'Oh, the battlefield's come to America' and 'the battlefield's everywhere,' 'the war is limitless in time and scope,' be worried, because your rights will not exist if you call America a battlefield for all time," the senator said.

Nearly seven hours in, Paul's filibuster is hardly a record. In the 1930s, Sen. Huey Long from Louisiana was known for reciting Shakespeare and reading recipes on the Senate floor when he filibustered. He once held the floor for 15 hours.

Former Sen. Strom Thurmond of South Carolina holds the record. He famously filibustered for 24 hours and 18 minutes against the Civil Rights Act of 1957.

In recent history, independent Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont held the floor in 2010–though technically not through a filibuster–to protest a tax-cut deal for eight hours and 37 minutes.

Three hours in, Paul showed little signs of fatigue. He frequently shifted weight from one leg to the other and rested his hands on the desk from time to time. But a full glass of water sat untouched in front of him, and Paul rarely let go of his eye contact with his Senate colleagues.

After about six hours, however, Paul's level of fervor began to fade. The pace of his speech slowed down and he read more often from notes. Around 6:15 p.m. ET, he chowed down a snack in between sentences, talking with his mouth full.

For most of the time, Paul squarely placed blame on the president for what he perceived a dangerous precedent in federal law. The Kentucky senator was quick to make comparisons between President Obama and candidate Obama.

"I think it's also safe to say that Barack Obama of 2007 would be right down here with me arguing against this drone strike program if he were in the Senate," he said. "It amazes and disappoints me how much he has actually changed from what he once stood for."

Obama said there's something "contagious" about the office of presidency and cited the famous quote by John Dalberg-Acton.

"It's not just power corrupts, but that 'absolute power corrupts absolutely'," Paul said. "I think people can become intoxicated with power. I don't know if that's the explanation for President Obama's about-face. He was one, when he was in this body believed, in some restraint."

But Paul did not endure the filibuster by himself. At three hours and 10 minutes, he began sharing his time with other Republican senators, Mike Lee of Utah, Ted Cruz of Texas, Jerry Moran of Kansas, Marco Rubio of Florida, Saxby Chambliss of Georgia, John Cornyn of Texas, John Barrasso of Wyoming, John Thune of South Dakota, and Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania, who each weighed in with questions and their own commentary.

"I would note that your standing here today like a modern Mr. Smith Goes to Washington must surely be making Jimmy Stewart smile," Cruz said to Paul. His appearance represented his first time to speak on the Senate floor. "And my only regret is that there are not 99 of your colleagues here today standing with you."

Cruz noted that Wednesday marked the anniversary of the fall of the Alamo in San Antonio, Texas. Comparing the fight to Paul's effort on the Senate floor, Cruz said "Texans are proud" to see Paul (a native Texan) standing up "for liberty."

He then read a famous letter–perhaps in a move to kill time–from William Barret Travis in 1836, asking for more back-up at the Alamo.

Cruz, talking to Paul, said he hopes the "glorious letter give(s) you encouragement and sustenance on this 177th anniversary on the Alamo."

At just over four hours, the filibuster took an interesting twist when a Democratic senator, Ron Wyden of Oregon, came to the floor to assist and make the stand-off a bipartisan effort.

It's important to note that the drone controversy is one of the few issues where the far right and the far left sync up. While Wyden said he wants to make his point about the targeted killing of Americans by drones, he said he will still vote for Brennan at the end of the day. He did so in the Senate Intelligence Committee.

"Senator Paul and I agree that this nomination also provides a very important opportunity for the United States Senate to consider the government's rules and policies on the targeted killings of Americans," he said.

At just around five hours into the filibuster, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid came to the floor to gauge whether or not the Senate could hold a vote on Brennan Wednesday night.

He tried to limit the remaining time for debate to 90 minutes, but Paul objected, saying he wants answers from Holder that clarify his remarks on drones Wednesday morning.

Reid said he can't speak for the administration and canceled his request, meaning there would be no full vote on Brennan Wednesday.

The filibuster had its light-hearted moments, as well. When Rubio stepped up to join the filibuster, he had some words of wisdom for Paul.

"I know you've been here awhile. Let me give you some advice - keep some water nearby. Trust me," Rubio joked, poking fun at his now-famous sip of water during the middle of his Republican response to the president's State of the Union address last month.

Around 7:30 p.m. ET, Cruz returned to the floor to read aloud tweets about Paul's filibuster.

"I think the technical term for what the Twitterverse is doing right now is called 'blowing up'," Cruz said, highlighting the slogan–"Stand with Rand"–that's spreading online.

In the ninth hour, Lee again took over the spotlight so Paul could have a break. While the senator from Utah was speaking, Paul chatted with House members and paced back and forth in between the Senate desks. Since beginning the talking filibuster shortly before noon, he has not sat down or taken a bathroom break.

Well into the 11th hour, Rubio returned and at one point started quoting the musical artist Jay-Z.

A short time later, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell came to the floor to express his support for the effort.

"At whatever point we get to a cloture vote to extend debate on the nomination of Brennan, it is my view that cloture should not be invoked. This is a controversial nominee. Should cloture be invoked, I intend to oppose the nomination and congratulate my colleague from Kentucky for this extraordinary effort," McConnell said.

And with midnight quickly approaching, Paul’s support from his colleagues only seemed to be intensifying. Republican members of Congress began gathering in the Senate chamber in solidarity. And at 11:47 pm Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus tweeted an all-call to Republican senators who weren't already on the floor:

Paul continued to talk so he wouldn’t have to relinquish the floor, but he did not have to stay on the floor to keep his filibuster going. Although he was drawing attention to his objections to the administration's drone policy, senators are not required to be on the floor to block a vote, unlike previous times.

So what would have happened if Paul had kept going?

At some point, Reid was expected to make a parliamentary move that would start the clock ticking for a vote to break the filibuster. Sixty votes would have been needed to break the filibuster, and as Paul himself has acknowledged, he didn’t have the votes to succeed.

After that procedural vote to break the filibuster, Paul still could have dragged things out—-the rule allows an additional 30 hours of debate–into the weekend, before there would be a final vote to confirm Brennan.

soundoff(290 Responses)

milan milenkovic

This is ridiculous ! Pr. Obama said that Mr.Brennan ( a 25-year CIA veteran) is hard working and very serious person… He already was a huge help to Pr. Obama…Other countries , like BRICS, will NOT wait for USA, should we move forward, or continue to play political games, like we did in Congress, during past 4 years. Gallup poll on 01.11.13. show that only 14 % Americans support Congress ???

I don't understand people. The obama administration has not denied they would kill an American citizen! Courts people! If someone were committing treason, they go to court and are tried! Don't you understand?! An American on American soil! On a whim?! All this ties in! Now google says the FBI is constantly and more and more asking for info on it's users! This is on mainstream news and you ignore it?! These things are false and bologna?! Though mostly unlikely and not because somebody is protesting, but the fact that someone can be killed without due process is wrong! If it happens once, the door is open...

March 7, 2013 02:45 pm at 2:45 pm |

bean

Now Obama supporters are knowingly and openly supporting Romney/Bush policies!! Extended patriot act, more deficits, more wars, more spending, more drones, more welfare...what's next?

Vote for policy instead of party!

March 7, 2013 02:49 pm at 2:49 pm |

interested 48

He just proved what a bag of hot air he is.

March 7, 2013 02:52 pm at 2:52 pm |

Anonymous

Rand Paul makes most Republicans appear to be sane, resonable people. Instead of the screw the poor, don't help the needy, let the old die, jerks that most of them are. It's a wonder his father doesn't tell him to tone it down.

March 7, 2013 02:52 pm at 2:52 pm |

Jeremy

Most of you are missing the point, which is a question of constitutionality. Holder would not rule out the possibility (yes, the real possibility) of US drone strikes on US citizens on US soil. Does the POTUS have the ability to be judge, jury, and executioner of a US citizen? Do you remember why we have three branches of government?

This is not a question just for left or right wing extremists.

Rand Paul stood up for each and every one of you...regardless of party affiliation. He stood up for the constitution. I applaud him.

March 7, 2013 02:53 pm at 2:53 pm |

Dale

Why is it News Agencies talking heads are being such a Nervous Nelly about surveillance drones in the United States. And attacking U.S. citizens in the United States.
If you are on a government watch list "everything you do on the Internet", and "everything you say or text on your cell smart phones", it is looked at and the government watchdogs do not need drones to do this. ""People who are doing things have worries"", because they are being watched and listened to. "" Times have changed get used to it, nothing you can do about it, Drone Nervous Nelly's "".
Bleeding hearts and News Talking Heads keep calling this guy in Yemen an American born citizen and his son, they made it very clear they did not want anything to do with the United States, and the people with them say the same, "" made them non-US citizens "" coordinating attacks on the United States killing innocent people, ""that made them combat enemies"" that made it legal to take them out with a U.S. Weapon called a surveillance attack drone.
If Al Qaeda or the Muslim brotherhood had the same technology which they will have soon they will attacking innocent people like "" Non-sharia News Agencies and Internet that rub them the wrong way"". Think about it anti-drone bleeding hearts, you are on their drone list no doubt about it.

March 7, 2013 02:56 pm at 2:56 pm |

Adam Smith

Why is it that the people who were screaming about Bush putting enemy combatants in Guantanamo are now cheering for Obama to kill Americans on American soil who are not an imminent threat? If Bush had responded the same way the Obama Administration has you liberals would be rioting in the streets in protest. But since it is Obama you are praising him for throwing out due process and changing "innocent until proven guilty" to "guilty and sentenced to death unless you can prove you are innocent before the drone kills you while you are sleeping."

March 7, 2013 03:38 pm at 3:38 pm |

jp

so, the military has guns, rockets, missiles, destroyers, aircraft carriers, etc; should we also have a debate on the possibility; the hypothetical sense of american citizens being gunned down, attacked with missiles, etc, and demand for answers and explanations on this?

March 7, 2013 04:04 pm at 4:04 pm |

goonliving

Rand Paul is another anti-government paranoid freak! The only way he can muster up any attention is to make a mockery of the senate chambers with his nonsense.

March 7, 2013 06:20 pm at 6:20 pm |

Anonymous

Drone all you southern confederate traitors.

March 7, 2013 07:50 pm at 7:50 pm |

NgauHuPhart

Dr. Paul is running for President in 2016. He just hasn't announced it this early. But his "look at me" antics do give us a longer assessment period, so that we can absorb the fact that he's even more unrealistically revolutionary than his father. But his father isn't necessarily wrong about his views. He just wants to employ all of them immediately, which is highly impractical and implausible. Rand on the other hand, is just a jerk...

March 7, 2013 09:12 pm at 9:12 pm |

Anonymous

"Let the old die" ANON? Do you think that is a Republican thing? Can you imagine that "old people die" is a natural law? What do you really expect Democrats to do about old people dying???

March 7, 2013 09:33 pm at 9:33 pm |

Anonymous

what is it that you people do not get? ever heard of the NDAA? you guys make it seem like Rand Paul made up this whole idea that the president was given rights to kill americans on american soil without trial. he didnt. he is just fighting the battles that you ignorant tards are too blind to even realize need to be fought. youre rights are being pull out from under you and all you can do is attack one of the few men who is trying to protect them. this is not just a ploy to get recognition for an election. he has been fighting for you since hes been in senate. open your eyes. everything you hated about bush, obama supports. when republicans and democrats see the root issues the same, were down to a one party system. they fight and disagree in the medias sight over hotwheels and matchboxs but behind closed doors their eyes are right in line when it comes to bmw's and jaguars.